Wichita Wedding Ceremony Venue: Gazebos!

A bride recently asked me where in Wichita she could have her ceremony that was both outdoors and provided a gazebo. While I'm pretty sure what she had in mind was more akin to the one found in the Stars Hollow town square (above) I was able to brainstorm and come up with a few that Wichita offers. Granted, you probably won't get the Gilmore Girls look unless you find it on private property or in a smaller outlying town. Gazebos are a great structure for use in an outdoor ceremony because they can still offer that "churchy" feel and add to the beauty of your wedding without going overboard.


This one is next to the Lily Pond in Central Riverside Park. See this post for more on renting City Park facilities.


My personal favorite is the gazebo in Heritage Park downtown. Many of you may not know what I'm talking about - it's on William behind the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Musem. The courtyard area is bricked with wrought-iron fencing, and it's beautiful! It's also a bit small, though. If you're planning something intimate, this could be a great spot.


Another great location is the Victorian-styled Naftzger Park gazebo. This park also has a darling pond and a fun location in Old Town right across the street from Eaton Steakhouse. Even if you don't decide to have your ceremony here, I'd add this location to the top of your wedding photo list - the setting is absolutely perfect.


Longview Park - not one of my favorites, but a gazebo nonetheless.


And this one is available for ceremonies at Wyldewood Cellars (the Mulvane location, I think, but I'm not sure because I've never been there).

I don't have a photograph, but there is also an outdoor gazebo at Cowtown - though the rental fees will be a bit more expensive.

Feel free to comment if you can think of any I missed!

Pachelbel Schmachelbel

I know not a single music major (or minor, for that matter), who asked for Pachelbel's "Canon in D" to be played at their wedding. That includes me. Before you get offended (it's a perfectly lovely song!), here's why:

Bridal Open House at Eberly Farm

Eberly Farm (at 13111 W. 21st Street in West Wichita) is hosting a Bridal Open House two weeks from today on Sunday, November 16th from 1:00-4:00 pm. If you're looking for a scenic location for your wedding ceremony and reception, this is the spot! Admission is free, so bring your mom, bridesmaids or bridal consultant and ALL your questions!

Refreshments will be served and several vendors (listed below) will be on hand. Rental items (linens, centerpieces, chairs, arches) will be on display, as well.

Vendors scheduled to appear:

Advanced DJ Service
Bradley Paper
Chocolate Cascades
The Flower Factory
Woolf Photography
J&J Fine Liquors: 316.722.1222
Dan's Country Carriage: 316.796.0127
The Archbold Duo: 316.295.0448

For more information, e-mail info@eberlyfarm.com or call 722.3580.

Wichita KS Reception Venue: The Boathouse

The Wichita Boathouse is definitely one of my favorite places for parties, so wedding receptions are no exception. Currently serving as a Visitor Center, it is perched on the river in Downtown Wichita - about 15 minutes from anywhere in the city. The two-story building has gorgeous hardwood floors and even offrs a piano - perfect for cocktail hour as your guests arrive. Additionally, they have a kitchen and an open-catering policy. Six-foot table are available to rent, but you'll have to go elsewhere for linens, chairs, place settings, etc.

Call Connie Clark at (316) 462-2787, ext. 796 for additional information on fees and availability or click here for more info from the City's site.

Wichita KS Wedding/Reception Venue: Central Riverside Park

Riverside Park in Downtown Wichita is a great spot for an outdoor wedding and reception. The park itself is over 100 years old and has just undergone a major rennovation. I have seen weddings performed in 3 areas: in the middle of the lawn, in the gazebo, and in the grandstand/stage area. Granted, it takes an especially brave bride to plan an outdoor ceremony and reception in Kansas - the only thing certain about the weather is its unpredictability! Fortunately, there is also a sheltered facility available. The Park Villa (pictured above) is located nxt to the gorgeous Lily Pond and offers an 800 square foot room for a ceremony or reception. Since it is a municipal property, you may have to get additional licenses for tents, fireworks, etc. However, one of the great things about using one of our city parks is that the rental fees are a fraction (and I mean only 10-30%) of what you'll pay for some of the other ceremony or reception sites in town. More information on rental guidelines is here.

Downloadable Application for Wedding/Rehearsal

Cold Feet?

What's worse than being dumped via text message? This.

Changes!

Hey, friends!

Just a heads up that the colors/backgrounds/fonts, etc. are going be chnaging a lot today. I'm bored and trying to find something different that I won't get tired of looking at.

In the meantime, thanks for your patience & check out what's on sale at The Knot Wedding Shop!

Cool Winter Themed Wedding Favors

Yes, that was a pun. And, yes, I’m just as bad as Target rolling out my Christmas wares in October – but the truth is that if your wedding is in the Fall, you’ve already made arrangements for your favors. This is for you winter brides looking for the perfect little token of appreciation for your guests:


First up, the Personalized Winter Mint Tins. Recently featured in InStyle Magazine, this adorable favor comes filled with heart-shaped peppermints and is sure to remind your guests of the fabulous time they had at your nuptials. Tins may be customized with your names and wedding date or even for another wedding event (“Audrey’s Bridal Shower”).



Next, these precious Mini Felt Winter Mittens come in a set of 6 and are hand stitched in blue with a tiny silver jingle bell. Obviously, winter wedding are perfect for a Tiffany Blue color scheme, and these favors fir right in! I wouldn’t say that these favors are necessarily useful for anything though, unless your guests hung them as ornaments on their tree.



Finally, these "Icing on the Cake" Winter Wedding-Cake Candles
are also, too cute. They come in a set of 4 and, once again, are perfect for a blue/white/silver theme. Looking good enough to eat, the ice-blue wedding-cake candle, delicately decorated with white snowflakes, rests on a porcelain platter encased in a winter-themed gift box and matching “For You” tag, all accented with a sheer organza bow.

One more thing worth mentioning: if you don’t yet have your guest book, take a peek at this Snowflake Winter Guest Book and Pen Set. When I got married, I skipped the guest book altogether, because I HATE having to stand in line and sign my name like I’m there to vote or get my driver’s license…but post-nuptials I learned why it’s so important. There were 250 people at my wedding. I probably had time speak with 75 and recognize an additional 50 faces – so now I have no record of who was kind enough to give up the evening of June 3, 2006 to share with us. Consider yourselves warned ;-)

50% Off at Hobby Lobby

OK, so this isn't a huge deal, but every so often Hobby Lobby does a 50% off sale. October 27th-November 1st, get half off Fall & Christmas decorations, candles, greens, etc. The only time I visit Hobby Lobby is during one of these sales. I purchase in advance for the next season and I give myself a limit (usually $10-$20) - you'd be surprised how much you can walk away with!

Home decor and greenery are also included, so this is a GREAT time to buy those little finishing touches for your ceremony or reception site! Additionally, brides who have opted to make their own bouquets with silk flowers are advised to get there ASAP! Not only will you spend HALF of what you were anticipating, you can assemble your bouquets months in advance!

Click here for the full add, and visit one of Wichita's two stores this week!

Wichita Caterer & Reception Venue: Corporate Caterers

Images courtesy Wichita360 and Corporate Caterers

If you’ve lived in or near Wichita for any length of time, you’ve heard of Corporate Caterers. I can’t count how many times I’ve eaten their food at birthday parties, staff trainings, fundraisers and…wait for it…weddings! Soon to be celebrating their 10 year anniversary, the company has grown leaps and bounds boasting breakfast, lunch and dinner service as well as chocolate fountain rental and the recently opened Corporate Caterers Banquet Facility. Be sure to check out the 360° Tour to get a feel for the space . Having been there a few times, I think the slideshow offers a better idea of what the interior offers.

They will work with brides to create a menu that is pleasing to both your palate and your wallet, and can accommodate your shower, bridal brunch/luncheon, rehearsal dinner or wedding reception (minimum head count for the banquet facility is 20; maximum 225). Note that they will cater events held at other locations and you’re not bound to use their food service if you rent their facility.

2009 Bridal Menu

2010 Bridal Menu

Additionally, Corporate Caterers offers licensed bar service, table/chair/linen/place setting rental, and free tasting on Sundays. For more information or to RSVP to a tasting, call 264-9167.

Wichita KS Wedding Venue: The Grand Chapel

One of the newest wedding sites in Wichita is the Grand Chapel and Reception Hall. This is perfect for brides who desire a church wedding but have no church affiliation or perhaps their own church does not suit their needs. Centrally located in downtown Wichita, KS on Broadway, the Grand Chapel is minutes away from hotels and the airport – very easy for guests to find.

The sanctuary holds up to 750 people, and the basement is a reception hall (fully equipped with a kitchen, bar and dance floor). The say that catering is offered by Cibola - I don't know if they allow you to bring in a different caterer or not. The chapel offers multiple private dressing rooms, as well as a beautful brides' room where you can change and even have your make-up artist and hairstylist meet you for prep work. Perhaps my favorite thing about this wedding venue is all the natural light that floods the auditorium – there are large windows lining the perimiter. Watch out if you're planning a ceremony around sunset, though; you don't want to blind your guests!

To see more pictures, visit their website. For information on date availability and pricing, call Amber at 269-3333.

Wedding Music: Do It Yourself!

DIY projects are all the rage right now, but they can be more trouble than they're worth, especially if you don't have time for hot glue, ribbon, and wax seals. If you can't afford a band and are hesitant about hiring that tacky DJ, give this approach a try.

Wichita KS Wedding Photographer: Avion Photography

“Avion Photography will capture not only the ‘posed’ memories but also the candid moments on your special day! Your wedding should be everything you have ever dreamed it would be! It's my mission to provide the best wedding photography at the best price! It all comes to down to one thing...your wedding. And we are committed to providing excellent service, beautiful pictures, and reasonable prices to make your wedding dreams a reality!”
I love photographers who are willing to ditch the traditional (and by “traditional, I mean BORING!) wedding pic poses and styles to offer their brides something unique that also fits their personality. Avion Photography definitely falls into this category. Avion’s talent and love of photography are evident in her work – and I also appreciate the fact that she doesn’t just take wedding pictures (translation: cute baby pictures!). Her calendar and portfolio are available on her website – as well as other products that she offers. Of course there are the standard prints and photo albums, but what really caught my eye were the coffee table books, custom photo boxes, and jewelry!


Avion Photography offers multiple packages sure to fit each budget; those packages can be viewed here. While I always encourage brides to prioritize their spending according to what’s most important to them, I feel like I need to insert one small caveat: After it’s all said and done – when your big day has come to a close, what you’ll have left are the memories you made and the moments your photographer caught on film, so CHOOSE WISELY! Your wedding photography and videography are investments that you will grow to appreciate more with every passing year, so make sure you find a photographer who wants to snap every last memory they can. Looking back on that day, it’s so much fun to see moments you missed (your husband and his groomsmen playing foosball in the church basement while you and your bridesmaids were doing your make-up) or the memories you forgot you had (catching your grandma’s eye and sharing a special “look” as you walked down the aisle). Avion Photography strives to capture each one. For more information, call Avion Robinson at (316) 806-1227 or e-mail at avion_avionphotography@msn.com.

Up to 50% off Hotels at Expedia

The husband and I are currently editing our Maui slideshow for its premiere for the parents this weekend. As a little nudge to those of you who are a bit behind on planning your honeymoons (or those who just want summer to last a little bit longer), check out: Expedia Hotel Sale: Up To 50% off Hotels - but hurry! It expires on 9/30/08!

25% Off Your Entire Purchase at Michael's

Attention all brides & crafties! Here's a 25% Off coupon good today through September 13th. Sale items are NOT EXCLUDED - so if hurry on over for all your invitation, flower, centerpiece, aisle runner, cake topper, veil, rose petal, bouquet, and wedding favor needs!

For those of you who tied the knot this summer (congrats, by the way!) there is also a 60% off coupon for your custom framing order. What a great time to pick your favorite wedding photos and have them beautifully matted and framed for a fraction of the usual cost!

A Word to the Wise: Thank You Notes

OK, here's the deal. Personal Experience #1 from my hiatus: 2 different brides - one sent a thank you card 3 days after her bridal shower and within 2 weeks of returning from her honeymoon. The other has not yet sent ANY thank-you note for her shower or wedding gift. There are a few schools of thought on the acceptable length of time that can pass before your guests begin to wonder if perhaps their $150 blender was lost and you didn't receive it - or worse yet, that you're an ungrateful recipient.

So how long is too long? You've got three months, sweetie. That's straight from Emily Post, Queen of Etiquette. But how, in the afterglow of the wedding & honeymoon are you supposed to find time to write out 200 thank you notes - each one personal and thoughtful?

1. When you buy postage for your wedding invitations, double the amount and purchase enough for your thank you cards as well. You're excited to go to the post office now (don't forget to ask specifically for wedding postage - unless you don't mind assorted fruit or the American flag on your envelopes) - but in a couple of months, when you have to rush to the dry cleaners after work, fly home (across town) and unload the dishwasher before you can start dinner when your hubby gets home in an hour, you're going to find it a little more difficult to swing by the post office for stamps.

2. Send notes for shower gifts within a week of your shower. Your guests will be impressed that you're so "on the ball" even in the midst of your planning - and you'll have fewer cards looming in the future. Plus, since showers can take place months before the wedding, you don't want to forget about thanking your guests altogether. "Well," you think, "what if someone gives me a shower gift and a wedding gift. Can't I just write one note for both presents?" I'm afraid not, dear. This is not a time to cut corners! If someone made the special effort to buy 2 gifts for you and took time out of her schedule to attend a shower and your wedding, the least you can do is take the time to send two separate notes of gratitude.

3. Be organized. I used this easy-as-pie Wedding Gift Listfrom Microsoft Templates to keep track of who gave what gift and when a thank you card was sent. You can use it at showers (have a bridesmaid do the writing) or when you and your hubby open presents! My husband enjoyed the "opening" part, while I took care of jotting down all the particulars. Then, over the next 2 weeks while we would watch television after dinner, I would make it a goal to write 5-10 thank you cards, address the envelopes & slap on a stamp. If this spreadsheet isn't quite your style, there are plenty more to be turned up in a Google search - and they can be printed or downloaded for electronic use, whichever works best for you.

We're Back!

Hey all!

I have to begin with an apology that it's been over a month since our last post. The tail end of summer wedding season and my own belated honeymoon have kept me SUPER busy...but that means I have new ideas as we gear up for fall wedding season - and I've got TONS of info for those of you planning to honeymoon in Maui. Un-freaking-believeable.

I leave you with MSN's recent piece on misbehaving wedding guests.

Mulvane KS Wedding & Reception: Aunt Sue's Restaurant and B&B

Aunt Sue's Restaurant and Bed & Breakfast in Mulvane (half an hour south of Wichita) is a fun ceremony/reception location for brides desiring something quiet and intimate. Towering trees and a glistening pond in the country make this spot perfect for outdoor ceremonies – they even boast an Open Air Chapel, which looks like something right out a movie. And at $295 for 2 hours, the price is incredible!
Receptions can be held in the Big Red Barn – which looks like a barn only on the outside. Inside, you'll find modern amenities, central heating & air, and a fully operational kitchen. Guests can gather on the over-sized front porch or hang out in the loft overlooking the reception below. Up to 100 guests can be accommodated, and Aunt Sue's also offers catering packages.
Visit their website for more policy & pricing information, and call (316) 777-1232 to set up a tour!

Wichita KS Wedding & Reception Venue: Wichita Scottish Rite

The Wichita Scottish Rite, located at 1st and Broadway in downtown Wichita, is a great site for both weddings and receptions. A number of different rooms can be rented in this fantastic building – a historical landmark protected at the local, state, and federal levels! The main dining room can hold up to 450 people, and can be used as a ceremony site as well as reception site. Typically, ceremonies performed in the dining room place the bride, groom, and attendants on the grand staircase with chairs for the guests on the ground level. The gorgeous full-size theatre is also available for ceremonies and can seat up to 700 guests. Smaller rooms accommodating 25-100 people make this venue a great choice for any size wedding ceremony or reception, and its central location puts it within 5 miles of at least 15 area churches.
The dining hall offers an annex for additional seats, serving food, or a dance floor. FYI, though, it's not super attractive and definitely doesn't meld with the old-fashioned style of the dining room. However, if you opt for a DJ or a buffet line, they are required to be located in the annex due to the aging condition of the building. Another thing to consider when budgeting – event insurance is required. You can purchase it through the same agency you get your auto, renter's or home insurance. Be sure to call a few different companies, though. Brides have paid as much as $400 and as little as $75 for the same coverage through different agencies. Sound systems are included in the cost of renting the theatre and the dining hall.
Dorothy at the WSC is very helpful and has overseen the coordination of HUNDREDS of events in their facilities, so she can answer any questions you might have & can even set up a tour for you. Please call (316) 263-4218 for more information. Pricing and policies for usage are available here.

View slideshows & take a virtual tour at Wichita360!

Bridal & Holiday Expo This Weekend

Just a reminder that the Bridal & Holiday Expo is this weekend at the Century II Exhibition Hall in downtown Wichita. Doors open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday, so plan to attend and register for some amazing prizes, including videography, attire, a honeymoon or a $10,000 wedding package! Admission is $6 - see you there!